It’s official. iOS 18.1 is here and with it comes Apple Intelligence to the general public. While we wait for more launches, this is an update full of new features, many of them focused on the implementation of Apple’s artificial intelligence, and others aimed at bringing us functions that were introduced a few months ago at WWDC 2024. Let’s take a look, without further ado, at all the new features.
New Writing Tools
One of the biggest innovations in iOS 18.1 is the introduction of writing tools, available in any application where text can be written. If we have an iPhone 16 or an iPhone 15 with the Pro designation, currently the only iPhones compatible with Apple Intelligence, we can access features such as rewriting, reviewing, and summarizing texts intelligently.
The “Rewrite” tool suggests different versions of the written text, such as Professional, Informal, or Fun. Meanwhile, “Review” allows us to make corrections and improvements in grammar and language. Finally, the “Summary” option helps generate summaries of various types for any selected text.
Smarter and More Versatile Siri
With iOS 18.1, Siri receives an update that transforms the way we interact with the virtual assistant. Siri now features a revamped aesthetic, with a colorful light indicator that wraps around the screen while responding to us, and allows us to continue typing or scrolling through the screen while consulting it.
Siri understands natural language much better, adapting to pauses or changes in sentences. It even maintains the context of conversations, making communication much smoother and more similar to human interaction. With iOS 18.1, the possibility of activating the “Type to Siri” function with a double tap at the bottom of the screen also arrives. Siri knows the devices better, so we can ask how to perform certain actions, and it also has improvements in voice, to sound more natural and expressive.
Improvements in Photos
Another notable feature in iOS 18.1 is the expansion of search capabilities in Photos. Now, we can find images and videos by describing their content, making the search more intuitive.
Additionally, the “Clean” function is added to remove distractions in photos, and a tool to create memory videos describing the story you want to tell.
Optimized notifications and messages
Notification management has also received changes in iOS 18.1. With the notification summary, the system presents a quick overview of the most relevant information, making it easier for us to stay updated without being overwhelmed by alerts.
The new feature to reduce interruptions in Focus modes allows us to receive only urgent notifications, silencing distractions. In Mail and Messages, the quick reply suggests responses to streamline communication, and the priority messages feature highlights emails that require immediate attention.
Call recording and real-time transcriptions
We can now record phone calls in the Phone app and transcribe them directly in the Notes app. With an automatic notification informing all participants that the call is being recorded, this feature allows us to later copy parts of the conversation or perform searches within it.
Improvements in the camera and AirPods
In iOS 18.1, the camera has improved with more options for the Camera Control of the iPhone 16, as now we can quickly switch between the front and rear camera. The iPhone 15 Pro also receives new features in the form of a mode for capturing spatial photos, complementing the spatial video capture capabilities they already had.
Regarding the AirPods, this update brings new hearing health features to the AirPods Pro. It is now possible to perform a hearing test in the United States, and with the results, the sound is personalized in real-time to assist users with mild or moderate hearing loss. Hearing protection has also been implemented, which minimizes exposure to loud environmental noises in different listening modes.
Finally, iOS 18.1 fixes some bugs, such as the one that could interrupt playback in the Podcasts app and an error in the digital keys of some cars. It also improves functionality in the Control Center, where connectivity controls can be added individually. Additionally, the search in the App Store and Game Center invitations have been optimized.
A complete update in every sense. News from Apple Intelligence, improvements in various parts of the system, and bug fixes. This is an update we will want to install as soon as possible.
